periods after the pill - how long do they take to arrive?

[TheVillageIdiot]

blimey, didn't know where to post this and wasn't about to post on the pregnancy threads!!!

I'm gettin a little worried - I use the pill, fine no problem, but last month when I went to start takin a new packet I realised I had none left (dis-organised I know). By the time I got in touch with the doctore etc at least a week had gone so I figured I'd have to wait til my next bleed and then start taking a new pack.

The only problem is the next bleed hasn't arrived and it seems like forever, I am trying not to worry as we have been using other contraceptive but I am interested to know do periods take a long time to return after the pill? (I conceived dd whilst on the pill) so I've not had a month without it for a long time..

Am starting to have horried thoughts about 'what if'. I absolutely can not be pregnant!!!!

[Windermere]

Mine took 30 days but I think it can be almost anything from that up to about 6 months.

[Chuffed]

mine never came - 5 mths later I was pregnant. My dr said anything up to 6mths too.

[WigWamBam]

Mine took 13 months, and I presume you don't want to have to wait that long!

You don't have to wait until your period to restart the pill - as far as I remember you can start taking it at any time, it's just that you won't be protected for the first month as you would if you waited for the first day of your period.

Check with your GP or the pharmacist, but I'm pretty sure that's the case.

[TheVillageIdiot]

bl00dy hell, I don't want to wait that long

Perhaps I should phone GP about taking it before period. prob should get a test just to be sure as well. 13months! don't want to be waiting that long before I realise I'm preggers

[WigWamBam]

I think you'd be wise to take a test, and then have a chat with the GP. I know that was the advice I was given when I was taking the pill, but that was a while ago now and the advice may be different these days.

[albert]

First time I took a break from the pill it took 3 months, 2nd time it never happened - I was pregnant in less than a month!

[hellomama]

If you know 100% you're not pregnant, then you can start taking the pills at any time, but you won't be protected for the first 7 days. You don't have to wait for a bleed, its just that if you start taking them on the first day of your period you're protected immediately, thats why usually you start it then (you also know that you're not pregnant at that time!). You could be waiting a few months otherwise for your normal period to return, as most periods arrive 6-12 weeks after stopping the combined pill (sometimes longer on the mini-pill). If there's any doubt about pregnancy, then you need to do a test before starting re-taking it. HTH.